Which countries are easing Covid-19-related travel restrictions for Indian students? 

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every sphere of our lives. After a devastating second wave of Covid-19 in India now cases have been decreasing and the situation has slightly improved. Due to the second wave in the nation, a number of countries imposed travel restrictions for Indians, including students. As the situation is improving slowly some essential activities are also opening up in the country. On Thursday, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan informed Parliament that many countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Georgia have eased Covid-19-related travel restrictions and more nations are expected to open up when the situation improves. 

While replying to several questions in the Rajya Sabha on Indians studying abroad and the impact of the Covid-19-related restrictions on them, the external affairs minister said that the ministry has been making efforts to ease travel restrictions for Indians enrolled in foreign universities.

“Our missions abroad have been actively taking up these issues with the respective governments and have been impressing upon those governments to ease the travel restrictions. Also the issue of travel restrictions has been taken up at the ministerial level with several countries,” he said.

According to data presented by the external affairs minister, a total of 1,133,749 Indians study in 99 countries around the world. Among the countries with large numbers of students are the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK and others.

While the news of ease on travel restrictions is a sigh of relief for Indian students who have enrolled themselves in foreign universities, it is important to take all  covid-19 related precautionary measures to fight the ongoing pandemic. 

(With inputs from agencies )